Connecticut's Ryan Boatright, center, gets his hand on a shot by Boston College's Olivier Hanlan, left, while Amida Brimah looks on during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Photo: Seth Wenig, Associated Press

Connecticut's Ryan Boatright, center, gets his hand on a shot by...

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Olivier Hanlan #21 of the Boston College Eagles drives around Lasan Kromah #20 of the Connecticut Huskies during the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 2013 in New York City.
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NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Olivier Hanlan #21 of the Boston...

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Danny Rubin #31 of the Boston College Eagles takes a shot as Omar Calhoun #21 of the Connecticut Huskies defends during the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 2013 in New York City.
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NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Danny Rubin #31 of the Boston College...

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Olivier Hanlan #21 of the Boston College Eagles takes a shot over Ryan Boatright #11 of the Connecticut Huskies during the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 2013 in New York City.
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NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Olivier Hanlan #21 of the Boston...

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Ryan Anderson #12 of the Boston College Eagles takes a shot Amida Brimah #35 of the Connecticut Huskies defends during the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 2013 in New York City.
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NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Ryan Anderson #12 of the Boston...

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Niels Giffey #5 and DeAndre Daniels #2 of the Connecticut Huskies fight for the rebound with Eddie Odio #4 of the Boston College Eagles during the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 2013 in New York City.
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NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Niels Giffey #5 and DeAndre Daniels #2...

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Olivier Hanlan #21 of the Boston College Eagles heads for the net as Ryan Boatright #11 of the Connecticut Huskies defends during the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 2013 in New York City.
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NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Olivier Hanlan #21 of the Boston...

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Kevin Ollie of the Connecticut Huskies directs his players in the first half against the Boston College Eagles during the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 2013 in New York City.
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NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Kevin Ollie of the...

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Will Magarity #11 of the Boston College Eagles celebrates his dunk in the first half against the Connecticut Huskies during the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 2013 in New York City.
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NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Will Magarity #11 of the Boston...

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Olivier Hanlan #21 of the Boston College Eagles passes the ball as DeAndre Daniels #2 of the Connecticut Huskies defends during the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 2013 in New York City.
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NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Olivier Hanlan #21 of the Boston...

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: DeAndre Daniels #2 of the Connecticut Huskies celebrates his three point basket in the first half against the Boston College Eagles during the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 2013 in New York City.
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NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: DeAndre Daniels #2 of the Connecticut...

NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 21: Amida Brimah #35 of the Connecticut Huskies walks off the court after hitting his head on the floor in the first half against the Boston College Eagles during the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden on November 21, 2013 in New York City.
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In a foul-plagued, grind-it-out battle, the 18th-ranked UConn Huskies squeezed past Boston College 72-70 in the first game of the semifinals of the 2K Sports Classic Thursday night. Indiana and Washington were slated to play in the nightcap.

The Huskies led by as many as 11 points in each half but struggled to make it stand up. They went into the break leading 37-34 after BC closed on a 14-6 run. Daniels had 15 points at the half and Napier added eight.

UConn led by 11 again in the second half, but the Eagles went 15-for-15 from the foul line to hang around. The Huskies were 18-for-22 in the half from the line, but made just 8-of-25 field goals.

Ryan Anderson finished with 22 points for BC, which won the rebound battle 33-32. Olivier Hanlan scored 19, hitting a 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left to make it 71-70.

STARS OF THE GAME: Boatright finished with nine points, seven rebounds and four assists. Daniels turned in his third straight solid game with 23 points and six rebounds.

KEYS TO WIN: With the abundance of fouls called in the college game now, the foul line has become a valuable weapon for an offense. UConn finished 25-of-29 from the line. BC was 24-for-25

WORTH NOTING: UConn issued a release that Sam Cassell, Jr. and Daniel Hamilton have signed agreements to attend UConn next season. UConn added after the game that Cassell had submitted a Letter of Intent while Hamilton's agreement is for finacial aid, meaning he can still de-commit without penalty. Cassell, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound guard out of Baltimore, is the son of 15-year NBA player Sam Cassell, who is an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards. Hamilton, a 6-7 guard/forward from Los Angeles who is regarded as one of the top 25 players in the country, also has family ties to the NBA with older brother Jordan currently playing for the Denver Nuggets. "They are excellent players and more importantly, high-character people," Ollie said of the additions. "